Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for April 26-May 2. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Ladd Public Library will hold a program featuring Cody Wells, aka The Lego Man of NYC, for community members ages five and older from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Ladd Community Center, 303 S. Central Ave.

The Walnut Public Library District will partner with The Shed and Petals By Peyton to offer a bookworm floral workshop for residents at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at The Shed, 134 S. Main St., Walnut.

Bureau Valley CUSD 340 will hold a sports physical clinic from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Bureau Valley High School, 9154 County Road 2125 N., Manlius.

BV pitcher Dylan Howlett, who was covering first base on an infield hit to the right side, threw out Stark County’s Kaedon Steelman on a bang-bang play at the plate to end the game, giving the Storm its second 4-3 win of the day in Lincoln Trail Conference play.

The Walnut Public Library District will hold a Children’s Business Fair from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at Liberty Square, 115 S. Main St., Walnut.

The Rotary Club of Princeton will hold its fifth annual ShrimpFest and Brew Hullabaloo from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Rotary Park, 13593 Bicentennial Drive, Princeton.

The Walnut Public Library District will offer children in fourth through sixth grades a free “Safe At Home Class” program from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 3.

Several entrepreneurs in Sheffield will host Thrive on Main, an Etsy-inspired market, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 9.

The Walnut Public Library District will hold a Farmhouse Barn Quilts by Tammie program from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the Walnut Community Building, 141 Main St., Walnut.

No one is busier than St. Bede senior Lily Bosnich in the spring. On Thursday, she homered with two RBIs, three runs scored and three steals in softball. She then raced off to win the 300 hurdles in the senior night track meet, wearing her softball uniform.

The Putnam County Public Library District will host a four-week 3D printing program designed for youth ages 11–14 this June.

A Granville man charged in the robbery of Granville National Bank will stand trial June 22 in federal court in Peoria.

Ava Hobson scored in the first minute on an unassisted goal for the Princeton soccer team Thursday night on the Bryant Field pitch. Then it proved to be a case of pick your poison for visiting LaSalle-Peru with Keighley Davis, Keeley Cardosi and Bella Clevenger each scoring

Construction on the City County Park shelter project is entering its final stages, with concrete work expected to wrap up soon.

The Covered Bridge Quilters Guild will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at the New Hope Church of the Nazarene, Princeton.

Princeton Public Library raised $700 during its “Library Giving Day” fundraiser on Tuesday, April 4.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Condit branch will host a Docs & Dialogue screening of “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story,” at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 7.

Call it twin telepathy if you will, but Braden Curran knew his brother, Jack, was going to come through for the Hall Red Devils. And Jack delivered, bringing in his twin with a walk-off single to left field to lift the Red Devils to an 8-7 win over IVC.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville branch will host “Hidden History of the First Ladies” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 6.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s McNabb branch will hold a free screening of “Miles, Morale, and Memories: Bob Hope and World War II” at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6.

Here’s a look at Bureau County baseball leaders for the 2026 season, including players from Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville branch will hold a free screening of “The Grocery List Show” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 5.

“Illinois Archaeology: The Deep Roots of the Prairie State,” a travelling exhibit from the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, wil be displayed in May at Princeton Public Library.

Here’s a look at the top Bureau County boys track & field athletes representing ALO, Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede as of April 29, 2026

The bridge has been closed since the collision damaged the structure’s façade and roof. IDOT has allocated approximately $1 million for repairs and upgrades as part of its multi-year program.

Keely Lawson went 4 for 5, with a pair of homers and seven RBIs to power the Tigresses to a win at Prophetstown. At Ottawa, Ava Balestri had a three-run home run and Ella Burke had a RBI triple as St. Beede erupted for seven runs in the eighth in a 13-6 win over Marquette.

Bureau Valley graduate Elijah House ran on the St. Ambrose’ 4x800 relay which qualified for nationals with a time of 7:34.20 hitting the Nationals A standard and breaking the school record.

Veteran Hall coach Tom Keegan, who guided his Red Devils to the 2A State Championship in 2018 and won more than 400 career games, has been selected as one of the two head coaches for the 49th annual ICA Senior All-Star Game on Monday, June 22 at Schweickert Stadium in Peru.

Putnam County High School announced its honor roll for the third quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

Ohio senior Jillian Anderson has been selected to the Northwest Illinois All-Star Game on June 9 at Highland Community College in Freeport. She was a first-team All-BCR selection, named first-team NUIC All-Conference for the Amboy co-op.

Keighley Davis will be heading to William Penn University in Oskalosa, Iowa to play volleyball this fall. The Princeton senior will suit up for basketball one more time. Davis has been selected to play in the IBCA All-Star Game on Saturday, June 13 at Pontiac High School

Mother Nature has thrown another curve ball at today’s area ball games and activities. Here's a look at today’s postponements and cancellations that have been reported

Logan Junior High School recognized 12 students for citizenship in the third quarter of the 2025-26 school year.

The Chief Senachwine Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution met on April 11 to celebrate America 250! initiative, marking 250 years since American independence.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for April 19-25. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Illinois Extension will offer a garden planning workshop May 12 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library, 215 E. Cleveland St., Spring Valley, designed for gardeners of all experience levels.

The meeting is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Bureau Valley Junior High's Stevie Davis, Kinley Gruber and Leah Donnelly took part in the 67th Student Council State Convention on April 17-18 in Springfield.

One swing of the bat by Braden Shaw lifted Princeton to a 2-1 win over Erie-Prophetstown in Three Rivers East battle Thursday in Princeton. But it took a throw to home by second baseman Hunter Spiegel and game-ending strikeout by reliever Jack Oester to finish off the Tiger win

The Princeton Youth Football League is rallying around one of their own. PYFL is holding fund-raisers in support of coach Rob Comer and his family, who lost their Princeton home to a house fire on Wednesday afternoon.

Here’s a look at the area Bureau County softball leaders from Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede as of Wednesday, April 22

Illinois Valley Cursillo will hold an evening of food and fellowship Saturday, May 16 in Peterstown, south of Mendota.

Going to see River Valley Players later this month? Bring a few Kleenex. You’re going to need them.

The event will feature youth entrepreneurs from Ottawa Central, Waltham, Dimmick and Peru grade schools with businesses offering baked goods, 3D-printed items, handmade bracelets, slime, handmade crafts and more.

Nine Princeton High School seniors put the finishing touches on their future plans at the Tigers’ 2nd Annual College Signing Day at Prouty Gym on Tuesday.

Festival 56 is seeking up to three youth ages 14-22 to work as paid apprentices with the resident professional theatre company this summer.

St. Bede senior standout Lily Bosnich broke three meet records at Hall’s Rollie Morris Invite on Saturday. BV's Elise House, Mendota's Sabastian Carlos and LaMoille's Olivea Glaspar have also broken school records this season.

Nine students will participates in tonight’s 2nd annual College Signing Night at Princeton High School

The Princeton and Mendota girls pushed one another throughout the night in the Ferris Family Invite at Princeton on Monday. In the end, Mariyah Elam and the Trojans won more events (10) with five seconds to edge Princeton (four firsts, six seconds) for top team honors.